Bill Ball

I plotted an alternate route that avoids 101 altogether, going on PART of route 25, cutting over to pick up Arroyo Seco by taking Johnson Canyon Road. It adds 20 miles, but would be a bit slower.

The original route I link above is slightly different from Nicole's description, getting off 101 10 miles earlier in Soledad instead of Greenfield. The alternate route takes 25 to Johnson Canyon and goes over to Gonzales, 10 miles North of Soledad. Here is a pic that shows the alternate in Green, with the original 101 section in black. This would be almost all backroad and much more twisty stuff in place of 101. Maybe a bit too tiring, but what a route.

Nicole

Hi Bill:

This sounds like an excellent route, but I'm worried it will be too long. I think we should try to keep the drive as close to 3 hours as possible; the one you posted on norcal928 is already estimated at 4 hours (that is 4 hours with regular cars...)

Remember that we should be in Monterey at a reasonabale lunch time, and Bill will have to drive another 7-8 hours to San Diego. Therefore I think the 101 shortcut to Greenfield is a good compromise that will give us enough twisties with a reasonable driving time.

Also, let's make sure we leave no later than 9:00AM on Sunday.

SharkSkin

Frankly I've found many of the restaurants around the wharf to be very touristy and bland, like hotel food with some kitsch around the edges. Hardly worth the 1/3 to 1/2 mile round-trip walk to/from parking, but handy if you happen to already be there -- I haven't tried that particular place though, and would love to find that I've been wrong about that. Have you(or anyone who's listening) eaten there?

Nicole

Yes, I've eaten there and survived... No, it was actually VERY good!

Main reason I picked it was because it had been Bill's wish to go to Monterey on his trip. He loves the area, and if we end in Carmel Valley and go right on Hwy1 South from there, we skip the coastal areas of Monterey and Carmel altogether.

We can do Carmel Valley some other time.

This opinion was brought to you by:

Mongo

Don't play coy with Bill...

SharkSkin

OK, I'll be glad to give it a whirl, though now I'm curious about the place Rich mentioned... have to check it out one of these days.

Bill, I never got back to you on the 101-25 route... I thought the route would hit the coast further south, so was looking for a way to streamline. The routes you've posted since look much more manageable, given the time constraints.

Bill Ball

OK, we'll stick with the original route. I've added Cafe Fina as the destination. I sent out a note to the norcal928 maillist. Actually twice due to a date error. I hope it gets through the spam filters - it didn't get through mine! You know, maillists suffer from that due to the return address not matching up with the return address. I need to send direct emails I guess.

Ron_H

Hey, are we not going to take Carmel Valley Road from Gonzales or Greenfield, ad stopping for lunch in the Village up in the valley? Bummer.
After lunch we can always go over Laureles Grade into Monterey to the wharf if anyone prefers that terminus. I will go into Carmel myself. I also like Bill's alternate route from Gonzales. I guarantee you will be tired by the time we arrive at the Carmel Valley Village and will want to stop. But have it your way. I am bringing my lunch with me anyway as always, so I am not too concerned about the meal. And Monterey/Carmel will be packed with people.
Another reason to like the route that avoids Hollister is that it is a speed trap from 101 to Hollister and a slow agonizing go that seems to take forever behind trucks. Pass them and you get nailed by ravenous bears.

Bill Ball

Dave:

Johnson Canyon Road is not a main artery and might not be passable, for all I know, but it does create a significantly shorter route with 25 in the mix.

Bill Ball

It's not possible to get full agreement on these things. The leader must make a choice. Nicole is free to reconsider and look at other options.

blau928

Johnson Cyn is a dirt road, and I would not take my 928 there.. The 101 to Carmel Valley is twisty, and will take about 45 mins - 1 hr. Cafe fina is for tourists. The food is not good compared to Cafe Rustica's. Your choice.. Let me put it this way... It's one of my favourite restaurants in the US. And I eat out every day, and have been doing that for a long long time....

Anyway, Have fun. If things change, I'll ring Bill on his cell... Hope you guys have a good time..

Bill Ball

Richard:

Thanks for the info on Johnson Canyon Rd. That's what I was wondering ,as I indicated above. So much for that route. Good input on that and the restaurant. We could eat in Carmel Valley and finish up at a watering hole in Monterery. It's Nicole call.

Ron_H

Yes, thanks Richard. I'm a happy camper again. I think Nicole is still sleeping, the night owl that she is.

SharkSkin

Regardless of where we go on Sunday... Cafe Rustica is now on my "must-try" list. Thanks Rich!

gersar928

Cafe Rustica...makes me hungry just thinking about it!